Spring DIY Projects

Spring is half-sprung for us here in New York City: Though it's still grey and rainy (witness the research and copy departments' umbrella forest), the trees on my walk to the office are budding like crazy, and this weekend should be an explosion of blooms. I've been whiling away this last handful of chilly evenings with fingers-crossed-for-warmer-weather projects like these; when it's sunny and lovely, I'll be ready.

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"Porcelain" vases(from Erica Domesek at P.S.-I made this...): Make a gorgeous vessel for fresh flowers (are tulips all over your neighborhood now, too?) with a recycled bottle, puffy paint, and a few coats of white spray paint. I tried this a few weeks ago and the results were fantastic: My new vase looked like one of Jonathan Adler's. Who knew puffy paint could generate something so chic?

"Almost Anthro" painted salt shaker and pepper mill(from Rachel at Heart of Light). More magic with spray paint: In this tutorial, Rachel turns a bland thrift store set into perfect-for-spring statement pieces. She even explains how to keep paint out of the holes in the salt shaker (put a pin through each one and pack the shaker with cotton before painting). Rachel's also a master of handmade accessories: Check out her DIY index for dozens of gorgeous projects. See you in April!